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Pictures of the Day: Capital Sikhs – Washington, D.C & London, England

June 13, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

This past week provided an interesting reflection of the Sikh diaspora, as Sikhs on both sides of the Atlantic gathered in their respective capital cities to take up Sikh issues. As mentioned yesterday, Sikhs from all over the United States attended the first ever White House briefing on Sikh civil rights in Washington, D.C. last Friday: Meanwhile, on the other side of the pond, Sikhs in London, England came together in much grander scale this past weekend at Hyde Park […]

Categories: 1984, Civil Rights, Picture of the Day, Politics • Tags: "Washington, 1984, D.C.", England, Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom

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Is Washington, D.C.’s Fojol Bros. food-truck racist?

May 22, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Washington Post discusses the Fojol Bros. food-trucks in Washington, D.C.: As of Friday, more than 950 people had signed the petition, many expressing outrage over the cultural insensitivity of Fojol employees, who wear turbans and fake bushy mustaches and assume mythical personas from the lands of “Merlindia” and “Benethiopia” — all while peddling dishes inspired by the cuisines of India, Ethiopia and Thailand. Despite the criticism, the founder of the business, Justin Vitarello, seems unapologetic about the use of […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: "Washington, D.C.", Fojol Bros, Food truck, Washington Post

Washington, DC Police to accommodate observant Sikhs

May 16, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. will soon make an accommodation to allow observant Sikhs to serve: The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund says [D.C. Police Chief Cathy] Lanier will announce an executive order Wednesday that eases uniform and appearance rules for Sikhs. Observant Sikhs generally wear turbans and do not cut their hair, and a policy change will permit them to maintain their appearance. Despite the long history of Sikhs serving in military and law enforcement […]

Categories: Civil Rights, News Bits • Tags: "Washington, Cathy Lanier, D.C.", Jasjit Singh Jaggi, Metropolitan Police Department, SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund

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A look at America’s Sikh advocacy organizations

May 15, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

A recent study called “Lobbying for the Faithful” from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life provided a survey of religious advocacy organizations in Washington, D.C.: The number of organizations engaged in religious lobbying or religion-related advocacy in Washington, D.C., has increased roughly fivefold in the past four decades, from fewer than 40 in 1970 to more than 200 today. These groups collectively employ at least 1,000 people in the greater Washington area and spend at least $350 million […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Reports/Studies • Tags: "Washington, D.C.", Pew Forum, religious advocacy, SALDEF, SCORE, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Sikh Coalition, Sikh Council on Religion and Education, Washington DC

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Washington, D.C.’s National Gurdwara closes

February 21, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

About six months ago, we received news of the dire financial situation surrounding the National Gurdwara located in the US Capitol district in Washington, DC. The Gurdwara has apparently finally succumbed to its financial issues and closed, but not without objections from its sangat (congregation): Said Sardar Bakhshish Singh, President of the Gurdwar,a in a communique, “I want to inform the Sikh sangat all over the United States of some very sad news that the National Gurdwara, DC has been […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: "Washington, D.C.", National Gurdwara, Washington D.C.

D.C.’s National Gurdwara heading to the auction block

August 16, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The National Gurdwara, located on Massachussetts Avenue in Washington, D.C., is in dire financial straits. Built in 2005, the Gurdwara (Sikh house of worship) is located in the heart of D.C. – steps away from the National Cathedral and only a few miles away from the White House – and claims to be the only Gurdwara in Washington. However, despite its lofty goals, it seems that the Gurdwara has become too mired in politics and poor management to be able to […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: "Washington, D.C.", National Gurdwara, SGPC, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Washington D.C.

The Sikh Coalition faces racial profiling, cont’d

April 5, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

It was at this moment that I realized we were being profiled and that what made us “suspicious” in the eyes of some misinformed bigot were our turbans. I clarified to the 3 officers that we are actually from South Asia; requested their business cards; and told them that we would “be in touch.” At long last, we made our way to the Capitol Visitor Center, where Gurwinder delivered an excellent presentation with poise and incredible grace, only moments after […]

Categories: Civil Rights, News Bits • Tags: "Washington, D.C.", Gurwinder Singh, Racial profiling, Rajdeep Singh, Sikh Coalition

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Gurwinder Singh this morning in front of the US Capital. He spoke here this morning about his experiences with school bullying. He was also bullied this morning by US Capital police who questioned him because a member of the public called in a report of a suspicious looking "middle eastern" person near the House of Representatives.

The Sikh Coalition faces racial profiling

April 4, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

From the Sikh Coalition’s (one of the first national Sikh-focused civil rights organizations in the country) Facebook page today: The irony speaks for itself, and I’m very much interested to hear more details.

Categories: Civil Rights, News Bits • Tags: "Washington, D.C.", Facebook, Gurwinder Singh, Racial profiling, Sikh Coalition

Can’t see the religion for the buildings

November 12, 2010 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

“I am sorry I failed.” — D.C. Superior Court Judge Bruce Beaudin, on his attempts to bring resolution to the dispute over the National Gurdwara in Washington, D.C. Such disputes involving Gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) are all too common in North America. Many Gurdwaras are plagued with an over-emphasis on buildings, personal ambition, and finances. A visit to this Gurdwara’s website takes the visitor to a page asking for donations to keep it afloat. The Gurdwara is surrounded by such […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: "Washington, D.C.", Gurdwara disputes, National Gurdwara

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Tag: D.C.”

Pictures of the Day: Capital Sikhs – Washington, D.C & London, England

Is Washington, D.C.’s Fojol Bros. food-truck racist?

Washington, DC Police to accommodate observant Sikhs

A look at America’s Sikh advocacy organizations

Washington, D.C.’s National Gurdwara closes

D.C.’s National Gurdwara heading to the auction block

The Sikh Coalition faces racial profiling, cont’d

The Sikh Coalition faces racial profiling

Can’t see the religion for the buildings